ANTISOCIAL behaviour by some youths in Harnham will cause even more misery to residents living in Parsonage Green and around the recreation ground if plans go ahead for a sports wall.

This is the claim of local residents, who this week campaigned for the sports wall to be abandoned by handing in a petition to Salisbury district council.

They also planned to turn up in force to voice their concerns at last night's meeting of the council's city committee.

Objectors say they would rather have the money spent somewhere else than have the sports wall erected on the grassed open space off Parsonage Green.

Residents said that, if the council insisted on providing the facility for young people, then it should go on to an open space off Middle Street, where there is already a football pitch.

Before last night's meeting, Christine Wood, who lives in Parsonage Green, said residents had suffered for many years from yobbish behaviour, foul language and intimidation by some youths congregating in Harnham.

She said building the sports wall close to houses in Parsonage Green or on a second optional site in the eastern corner of the recreation ground near homes in St Mary's Road would simply bring the antisocial behaviour closer to people's homes.

She said both areas had a high number of elderly people who were "extremely worried" about the proposals.

Another objector, Andrew Coombes, said there had been a problem with certain groups of youths for some time and, over the past year or so, it had become worse.

Mr Coombes said many residents felt the Parsonage Green site was "clearly unsuitable", as it was very close to a busy main road.

The Reverend David Scrase, chairman of the Harnham Youth Venture group, said it was a difficult issue to resolve.

He said the Middle Street site was an area designated a natural wildlife area and nurtured by local people.

He said the sports wall could go on the eastern side of a hedge that divided the open space in Parsonage Green and adequate safety precautions could be taken.

He went on: "The young people of Harnham have nowhere to go and no one to speak up for them.

"We must acknowledge that our young people are also citizens and have the right to be looked after."

In a report to the city committee parks manager, Reg Williams said efforts to provide facilities for the youth of Harnham had been going on for more than three years.

He said recent consultations by the ward members, Harnham Neighbourhood Council, the church council and the local youth work team clearly indicated that the youths' preferred site was either Parsonage Green or the recreation ground.

His report went on: "It is also clear that the residents close by are vehemently opposed to facilities in either location.

"This issue needs to be determined once and for all, and allow the monies to be used elsewhere, should facilities not be proceeded with at this time."